Malaysian Prime Minister Says Jakarta can Take Whatever Action it Wants Over Unpaid Indonesians

Associated Press
Tuesday, February 8, 2005

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Tuesday that Jakarta could take whatever legal action it wishes over unpaid Indonesians who worked illegally in his country, a news report said.

Indonesia has complained that some Malaysian companies hired illegal Indonesian workers and in many cases then refused to pay their salaries.

Indonesian Manpower and Transmigration Minister Fahmi Idris, who was in Malaysia Tuesday, said five lawyers were hired to assist his government in taking legal action.

He said it was the responsibility of his government to watch over Indonesian nationals, whether they worked illegally in Malaysia or not, according to the national news agency Bernama.

"The action taken by Indonesia is not aimed at opposing anyone but to respect the law," it quoted Idris as saying.

Abdullah said Indonesia could take whatever steps it sees fit. "Let them take whatever action they wish," Bernama quoted him as saying.

However, Abdullah indicated that problems would arise since the Indonesian workers were in Malaysia illegally. "That's also an offense," he said.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, set to visit Malaysia next Monday, has vowed to raise the nonpayment of wages at a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart.

"It's possible that this matter could be resolved before he arrives," Abdullah said.

The two sides have long tried to resolve the problem of illegal Indonesian migrant workers who travel to Malaysia seeking higher-paying jobs.